[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6508204,"mediaKeyId","5810569-6bd1353d8a746666aa255b2f56aad472","parentId",5810569,"title","City prepares for downtown festival; DDA considers buying three parcels across from the beach","audioSeconds",2539,"startMs",742000,"endMs",3281000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810569-6bd1353d8a746666aa255b2f56aad472&start=742&end=3281","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810569-6bd1353d8a746666aa255b2f56aad472/thumbnail_742000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6508204/Walled-Lake/Wayne-County/Michigan/City-prepares-for-downtown-festival-DDA-considers-buying-three-parcels-across-from-the-beach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6508204-4064d4da17afc84c627b9fc30a4a67f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030461&Signature=O~smnCCh-DeLWyjvgn9l4P2~Fln7xXigpk86H5jzr-gbOWohPtIB~XSL0UBY67-G7XCs~fkZRplFLaDx2bvTjv0-nU8secpM2lOZcPUXxqd8tN7K~IcSM8t9lTR4mS804oTSsULvXIxK8eKX-sodBFAOURIT92JRBLesHGS~KfgQACW5KzwscLcy9eWn9DJ8QPP4aIPf5Wi9HiLiU7Az~MeXHRecSEMODh1UE-hPQiWUQVoAjOgufiDRVyRcaC8RQ4V1Pkiz7TQGJWWxbVcdFtBmPiAm1KX10Bf5TI14fNI8Ls79QM54dr3eF5qtA1f8figvwilxi7LuZOvs3-Y0gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Walled Lake","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","Council members described plans for this weekend's downtown festival and fireworks, approved a budget amendment that included adjustments tied to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and discussed a possible DDA purchase of three parcels across from the beach.

Mayor Ackley and city staff said the Civic Fund coordinated use of private property owned by Abe Kisaglu (spelled several ways in the record) for the festival footprint and a beer tent. Staff said Walled Lake Drive from Liberty to Witherall will be closed for the event beginning early Saturday and that one-way and no-parking restrictions would be put in place along the lake shore to allow emergency access. The city will keep several downtown streets open so local businesses can participate.

City staff also briefed the council on a recommended budget amendment to record increased interest revenue and to increase public-safety personnel costs and purchases. Council approved the amendment in a roll-call vote. Staff said the amendment also reflects an adjustment tied to the DDA's recently approved spending.

In extended discussion, the council and staff described DDA finances and a potential acquisition. The DDA reported it has roughly $2.5 million available and, if approved, could use those funds (or a city/DDA partnership) to buy three parcels across from the beach. Staff said the parcels have produced modest annual revenue (about $8,000 annually in aggregate under the current arrangement) and that acquiring the site would remove those parcels from the tax rolls but allow the city or the DDA to develop it for public benefit, including park space or structured parking, depending on further approvals.

Police and city staff briefed the council on traffic plans for the festival. The police chief said the Civic Fund's move to use property off the main downtown street would reduce the need for large street closures compared with past years, and the arrangement should make crowd control easier. The council encouraged residents to attend but to heed posted closures and no-parking signs so emergency vehicles can move through the area.

Council members praised parks staff and volunteers for Memorial Day events and urged residents to enjoy the weekend events safely. The council took no purchase action at the meeting regarding the beach-adjacent parcels; staff said they would return to council with a specific purchase proposal and any required budget or DDA approvals if negotiation moved forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 17, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a budget amendment tied to public-safety costs and DDA activity, and heard staff outline downtown festival logistics including street closures and a beer tent on private property the Civic Fund arranged to rent.","taxTitle","Walled Lake, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",70298,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6508208,"Walled Lake approves employment agreement for Fire Chief Jason Gonzales",234,1128000,1362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810569-6bd1353d8a746666aa255b2f56aad472&start=1128&end=1362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810569-6bd1353d8a746666aa255b2f56aad472/thumbnail_1128000.jpg","/articles/6508208/Walled-Lake/Wayne-County/Michigan/Walled-Lake-approves-employment-agreement-for-Fire-Chief-Jason-Gonzales","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6508208-ab1ed981728a2f6d2080ce93b122f162/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030461&Signature=VAYG1TXPebuYwsvltr4xcRN1iK7b8XyMf54ajupOAoy-A1NRD2u7xFal-A9u-1hhOw9fXuSvapy5c4Zf5T3whyYVKMjndnjHjgC99XLKl898gckjFNaGRewIXVei-yu68k1b9~d2D1IP1hQ4zq93AmXUWoXZx9AwZ9qr2O5DamVisunIPb7c-irmfEwR5P16ptFuCdFXcq-Z4uomB4NkFPoM4OimfizKSsIrMSD-g5lpGZAcjLH9qcNirEWk-vZHHMVjXANm6QzzAule~tD7FyiGdYuE0BpEnPLgciK5gm3tRNnoZQrcQ52sCRXYf9Jgrc6mJ3hVl9QUVKDB~J8rFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Walled Lake City Council approved a resolution authorizing an employment agreement for Jason Gonzales as fire chief.

City staff described the contract as the city's standard administrative employment template with position-specific adjustments. The city manager recommended approval, saying the agreement provides Gonzales additional job security and aligns retirement benefits with the city's existing Municipal Employees' Retirement System (MERS) arrangements for administrative employees.

Councilmembers discussed the contract briefly and then voted in favor. After the vote, Gonzales thanked the council: \"Thank you for voting yes. That's my few,\" he said, speaking from the meeting floor.

City staff told council that negotiations had begun earlier in the year and that moving Gonzales into the administrative agreement avoided a more complicated retirement recalculation that could have reduced his benefits. The council recorded a roll-call vote and the resolution passed.

The agreement will be executed by the city manager as authorized by the resolution and the city will continue to process benefits and payroll under the terms described in the contract.","The council approved a resolution hiring Jason Gonzales as fire chief under a standard administrative employment agreement with adjustments for the position; council voted unanimously and Gonzales addressed the council briefly.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6508213,"Walled Lake council rejects Oakland County assessment increase, contracts with private assessor",1205,1606000,2811000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810569-6bd1353d8a746666aa255b2f56aad472&start=1606&end=2811","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810569-6bd1353d8a746666aa255b2f56aad472/thumbnail_1606000.jpg","/articles/6508213/Walled-Lake/Wayne-County/Michigan/Walled-Lake-council-rejects-Oakland-County-assessment-increase-contracts-with-private-assessor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6508213-96cdf8c8651d4797881bda7a4873d800/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030461&Signature=F3rEDrzv1KA5933~Jw70yMnAQcjMe-wx9vumlh7jqWSkXXZHd-rsPqG4Vi681DFnsv3fp3x1idYVoqlGwa4SI9EFRwATcBTLePUlIpxm8gJercn03Jy4fb2cXZYBCXRKfN8T-AC8LnIbdRd--mf2Yu6Aez87AUYoZ5CbURrnNKTX-Blzil3RxgWuaDNnP1DCTiSYliTpujRrPBWF0Dy1-nJqggGrFKTGEdYbK4tHQdqUjLBHhlG5wuhOMAOqfcRrmY7BTvDrYYCLFSyQM19UuKGKqCvTPwiQ3We0yIYpy6iKhar7vUGKQz4AEWmCTjn7ZPH~ZIl7C9l1bIp0~wtGSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Walled Lake City Council voted to reject Oakland County's proposed assessing-services agreement and instead authorized a contract with Assessment Administrative LLC to provide property-assessment services beginning July 1.

Council members discussed the county's decision to raise its assessment fees sharply and with little prior notice, then voted down the county agreement in a roll-call vote and immediately substituted a new resolution authorizing the contract with Assessment Administrative LLC.

The dispute began after Oakland County commissioners approved a large increase in assessment charges to municipalities. Commissioner Smiley, who attended the meeting, said the county vote was narrow and poorly timed for local budgets. \"The county's been essentially subsidizing these costs for 50 plus years. How about we just do one more year to let people kind of absorb this and deal with it,\" Smiley said, summarizing arguments made by several municipalities at the county hearing.

Chelsea Pesta, a city staff member who led the council's follow-up on alternatives, told council members that Assessment Administrative LLC, a Macomb County'based firm, already serves several nearby municipalities and was prepared to begin work July 1. Pesta said the contract proposal would reduce the city's assessor expense by about 62.5% compared with the county proposal and that the vendor already interfaces with the county's Citrix system staff use.

Council members sharply criticized the county's timing and methodology for the increases. Several council members described the increases as disruptive to municipal budgeting and said the county had not sufficiently consulted affected cities. After discussion, the council first voted to reject the county agreement; the original county resolution failed. The council then approved a substitute resolution to not renew the agreement with the county and to switch to Assessment Administrative LLC.

Mayor Ackley and other council members said the change was intended to protect the city's budget and preserve local service continuity. The newly approved contract was described as a contract award and will be executed by the city administration.

The council did not direct any immediate litigation or further county action; the vote created a record of the city's opposition and set the city up to work directly with Assessment Administrative LLC for 2025 assessment operations.

Looking ahead, staff said the city would coordinate data transfers with the county to avoid disruption to the tax year timetable and would return to council if additional implementation steps or related budget adjustments were required.","After sharp debate and criticism of Oakland County's late notice and steep price hikes, the Walled Lake City Council voted to decline the county's proposed assessing-services agreement and approved a contract with Assessment Administrative LLC, which staff said would begin July 1 and lower the city's assessing cost by about 62.5%.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City prepares for downtown festival; DDA considers buying three parcels across from the beach

Walled Lake approves employment agreement for Fire Chief Jason Gonzales

Walled Lake council rejects Oakland County assessment increase, contracts with private assessor